The Delhi High Court on Friday raised questions about the maintainability of a defamation case filed by IRS officer Sameer Wankhede against Aryan Khan’s directorial debut, The Ba***ds of Bollywood, streaming on Netflix.
Justice Purushaindra Kaurav orally asked Wankhede’s counsel if there was any cause of action in Delhi to pursue the matter. The court suggested that the suit be amended to specify the grounds for filing it within Delhi’s jurisdiction.
Wankhede has sought damages of Rs 2 crore and an injunction against the series. He has stated that the money, if awarded, will be donated to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for the treatment of cancer patients.
The officer claimed that Aryan Khan carried out a “calculated and vindictive hit job orchestrated to target and malign” him. He further highlighted that he had been subjected to trolling and derogatory remarks on social media, some of which had received as many as 1.3 million views.
The Netflix series, produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, premiered on September 18. It marks Aryan Khan’s first project as a director.
Wankhede gained national attention in 2021 when, as the Mumbai zonal director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), he arrested Aryan Khan in a drug-related case.
In his suit, Wankhede alleged that a character in the series “mimics” him, with facial and physical similarities as well as resemblances in speech, mannerisms, and actions. He noted that the character also arrests an influential film industry figure, which he claims mirrors his own role in Aryan Khan’s arrest.
The officer has also objected to the use of the phrase “Satyamev Jayate” by the character, which he said was an expression he frequently used during media interactions while investigating Aryan Khan. Wankhede argued that the depiction was defamatory, especially because the character later makes an obscene gesture — showing the middle finger — after reciting the phrase. He submitted that this act amounts to a “grave and sensitive violation” of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
The defamation suit names multiple parties, including Netflix, Red Chillies Entertainment, Meta Platforms Inc., Google LLC, X Corp, RPG Lifestyle Media Pvt Ltd, and John Does.
According to the suit, the show spreads a misleading and negative portrayal of anti-drug enforcement agencies, damaging public confidence in law enforcement. Wankhede also said that the references to Aryan’s NCB case are problematic since the matter remains sub judice before the Bombay High Court and the NDPS Special Court in Mumbai.